This application generally relates to devices and methods for washing a probe that transfers fluids, for instance, in an automated assay device. For example, this application provides a wash ring assembly useful for washing and drying the exterior and interior of a probe.

Automated assay techniques are crucial for disease analysis, bio-research and drug development in the medical and pharmaceutical industries. With incorporation of high-throughput steps, automated assay techniques can provide more results in a given amount of time than manual assay techniques. Automated assay techniques can reduce the risks of exposing personnel to potentially hazardous biological materials or chemicals. Modern automated assay devices can transport materials, such as biological samples, assay reagents, buffers, wash solutions, and the like, between a number of stations located in the devices. For instance, in a typical simple automated device a probe may aspirate sample from a sample vial located at a first station in the device, travel to and dispense the sample in a reaction container located at a second station in the device, travel to a wash station at a third location to aspirate and dispense a wash solution, and then return to the first station to aspirate sample from another sample vial. Three, four or more aspiration and dispensing stations can be found in commercially available automated devices. An exemplary automated device in described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005.

Typically, the probe should be thoroughly washed between aspirations and dispensations of different samples to avoid carryover or contamination. This is in part because carryover can adversely affect (usually add to) the volume of the dispensed sample. For instance, inaccurate results can occur where the volume of carryover sample is significant when added to the volume of dispensed sample. In addition, assay errors can occur due to cross-contamination between different samples being tested. While washing a probe is cross-contamination between different samples being tested. While washing a probe is essential to obtaining accurate results in an automated assay device, it is also advantageous to reduce the time it takes to handle consecutive samples. Thus, it is desirable to reduce the time it takes to automatically wash the probe such as by reducing the distance the probe travels during the wash cycle.

The present invention is directed to according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 17, a wash ring for removing excess fluid or solids from the exterior or interior of a probe after the probe has been immersed into the contents of a container. The container may hold a sample fluid material such as whole blood or a reagent.

An exemplary wash ring contains an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface forms a bore that is open to atmosphere at both ends. The bore can be adapted to receive a probe, such that when the probe is present in the bore, a capillary is formed between the probe and the inner surface. The exemplary wash ring can be equipped with inlet opening in an upper portion of the bore through which, for example, wash fluid can be added into the bore. The exemplary wash also has an outlet opening in a lower portion or the bore through which, for example, fluid can be expelled from the bore. In certain embodiments, the side in which the inlet opening into the bore is located opposes the side of bore in the outlet opening is located. In some embodiments, the outlet opening in the bore is larger than the inlet opening in the bore.

The invention provides a wash ring assembly comprising a frame mountable on a robotic probe assembly, such as that described, for instance, in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005, a wash ring, and a coupling means, wherein the wash ring is coupled to the frame by the coupling means, wherein the coupling means is capable of moving the wash ring toward and away from the frame in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe when the probe is present in the bore. In certain, the coupling means comprises a bearing, a lead screw and a motor.

In some instances, the wash ring assembly provided can further include a bearing assembly, useful, for example, for ensuring that the motion of the wash ring remains on a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe as it is propelled by the coupling means. For instance, the bearing assembly can comprise a bearing and a sled, wherein the bearing is coupled to the robotic probe assembly and the sled is coupled to the wash ring.

Thus the invention provides a wash ring (10) comprising a top surface (46); a bottom surface (48); an outer side surface; an inner surface forming a bore (56) comprising an inner diameter, a long axis, an upper bore portion, and a lower bore portion, wherein the upper bore portion has an opening (upper port (58)) in the top surface (46) and the lower bore portion has an opening (lower port (60)) in the bottom surface (48); an inlet (52) comprising an opening in the top surface (46), bottom surface (48) or outer side surface, and an opening in the upper bore portion; and an outlet (54) comprising an opening in the top surface (46), bottom surface (48) or outer side surface, and an opening in the lower bore portion; wherein the inner diameter of the bore (56) is adapted to receive a probe (7) such that when the probe is present in the bore, a space is formed between the exterior surface of the probe and the inner surface forming the bore, wherein the diameter of the outlet opening (68) in the inner surface forming the bore (56) is larger than the diameter of the inlet opening (64) in the inner surface forming the bore, and wherein the bore (56) is cylindrical from the upper port (58) to the lower port (60), the inlet and outlet openings in the bore are positioned 90° to 180° apart relative to the long axis of the wash ring bore (56), and the width of the space between the exterior surface of the probe (7) and the inner surface forming the bore (56) is 0.203 mm (0.008 inches) to 3.05 mm (0.12 inches).

In one embodiment of the wash ring (10), the inner surface of the bore (56) is made of a hydrophobic material or coated with a hydrophobic material. In another embodiment, the hydrophobic material is plastic, silicon, polyethylene, or TEFLON.
In another embodiment of the wash ring, the width of the space formed between the exterior surface of the probe (7) and the inner surface forming the bore (56) is 0.254 mm (0.01 inches) to 3.05 mm (0.12 inches).
In another embodiment of the wash ring (10), the outer side surface comprises a first outer side surface and a second outer side surface, and wherein the inlet (52) comprises an opening in the first outer side surface and the outlet (54) comprises an opening in the second outer side surface. In another embodiment, the inlet (52) opening in the inner surface forming the bore (56) and the outlet (54) opening in the inner surface forming the bore are on opposing sides of the bore.
In another embodiment of the wash ring (10), the ratio of the diameter of the outlet opening (68) in the inner surface forming the bore to the diameter of the inlet opening (64) in the inner surface forming the bore is 2 to 1 or 3 to 1.
In a further embodiment, the wash ring is coupled to a frame by coupling means to form a wash ring assembly (4) for washing a probe (7), wherein i) the frame is mountable on a robotic probe assembly (3) comprising a probe (7); ii) wherein the coupling means is capable of moving the wash ring towards and away from the frame in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe when the probe is present in the bore. In a further embodiment, the coupling means comprises a bearing (32), a lead screw (28) and a motor (30).
In one embodiment, the wash ring assembly (4) comprises a first guide shaft (33) connected with the wash ring (10) and extending through the frame. In another embodiment, the wash ring assembly (4) further comprises a second guide shaft (34) connected with the wash ring (10) and extending through the frame. In yet another embodiment, the wash ring assembly (4), further comprises a bearing assembly (112) comprising a bearing and a sled (118), wherein the bearing is coupled to the robotic probe assembly (3), wherein the sled is coupled to the wash ring (114), and wherein the sled travels along the bearing assembly in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe (120) when the probe is present in the bore.

The invention also provides a robotic aspiration and dispensing system. The robotic aspiration and dispensing system can comprise a wash ring assembly, as described herein, which is mounted on a robotic probe assembly. The robotic aspiration and dispensing system can further comprise a pumping means for pumping fluid through the inlet port into the bore of the wash ring component of the wash ring assembly and a suction means for removing fluid from the bore of the wash ring through the outlet port. Typically, the probe extends through the bore of the wash ring, and the wash ring and probe move together as the robotic aspiration and dispensing system moves the probe to desired locations to aspirate and/or dispense fluids. This affords the ability washing or drying the probe during any stage before, during or after the probe is used to handle a sample.

Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a robotic aspiration and dispensing system (2) comprising: i) a robotic probe assembly (3) comprising a probe (7); ii) a wash ring assembly (4), wherein the probe (7) is present in the bore (56) of the wash ring (10); iii) a pumping means for pumping fluid through the inlet port into the bore (56) of the wash ring (10); and iv) a suction means for removing fluid from the bore (56) of the wash ring (10) through the outlet port, wherein the wash ring (10) is capable of moving in parallel to a longitudinal axis of the probe (7) as the probe is in motion, aspirating and/or dispensing.

In one embodiment of the robotic aspiration and dispensing system (2), the width of the space formed between the probe (7) and the inner surface forming the bore (56) is 0.254 mm (0.01 inches) to 3.05 mm (0.12 inches). In another embodiment, the coupling means of the wash ring assembly (4) comprises a bearing (32), a lead screw (28) and a motor (30). In yet another embodiment of the robotic aspiration and dispensing system (2), the wash ring assembly (4) further comprises a bearing assembly (112) comprising a bearing and a sled (118), wherein the bearing is coupled to the robotic probe assembly (3), wherein the sled is coupled to the wash ring (114), and wherein the sled travels along the bearing assembly in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe (120) when the probe is present in the bore.

An exemplary process of using the wash ring assembly is described below. Prior to aspirating a sample from a container, a robotic probe assembly including a probe and an attached wash ring are brought into a position above the container. As the tip of the probe is lowered toward the container, the wash ring is positioned over an upper portion of the probe away from the tip of the probe. The probe is lowered by the robotic probe assembly and immersed in the sample, a portion of which can be aspirated into the probe. The wash ring can be moved down along the vertical axis of the probe toward the probe tip so as to be in position to wash the probe exterior as it is withdrawn from the sample container. This occurs while wash fluid enters the bore of the wash ring through the inlet, passes through the bore, and/or leaves by way of the outlet in the bore of the wash ring. The probe is then positioned over a dispensing container to dispense the sample. The wash ring can wash the probe, for example, following sample aspiration, as the probe moves prior to dispensing the sample and/or as the probe, after dispensing the sample, is moving to another position, for example, over a second container with a sample to be aspirated.

If desired, more than one cycle of exterior probe washing can take place while the robotic probe assembly is moved from its respective aspiration and dispense stations. Alternately or additionally, the wash ring devices and methods can be used to remove fluids from the interior and exterior of probes immersed in any substance, including reagents, buffers and sample treatment formulations.

Thus, in another aspect, the invention provides a method for cleaning a probe (7) in a robotic aspiration and dispensing system (2) as the probe is in motion, aspirating and/or dispensing, the method comprising: providing a wash ring (10) comprising: a top surface (46), a bottom surface (48), a side surface, an inner surface forming a bore (56) comprising an upper portion with an opening (upper port (58)) in the top surface and a lower portion with an opening (lower port (60)) in the lower surface, an inlet port comprising an opening in the side surface and an opening in the upper bore portion; and an outlet port comprising an opening in the side surface and an opening in the lower bore portion, wherein the inlet and outlet openings in the bore are positioned 90° to 180° apart relative to the long axis of the wash ring bore (56), a probe assembly (3) comprising a probe (7), wherein a portion of a probe to be washed is present in the bore (56), such that a space is formed between the exterior surface of the probe and the inner surface forming the bore, wherein a width of the space between the exterior surface of the probe (7) and the inner surface forming the bore (56) is 0.203 mm (0.008 inches) to 3.05 mm (0.12 inches), wherein the diameter of the outlet opening (68) in the inner surface forming the bore (56) is larger than the diameter of the inlet opening (64) in the inner surface forming the bore, and wherein the bore (56) is cylindrical from the upper port (58) to the lower port (60), adding fluid into the bore (56) of the wash ring through the inlet port; removing fluid by suction from the bore (56) of the wash ring (10) through the outlet port; wherein the adding fluid and removing fluid steps can be performed as the probe (7) is in motion, aspirating and/or dispensing.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following step: guiding the vertical movement of the wash ring (10) with a guide shaft (33) along a longitudinal axis of the probe.

• Figure 1 is a front view of an exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system.
• Figure 2A is a perspective view of an exemplary wash ring for use, for instance, in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 1.
• Figure 2B is a front view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 2A.
• Figure 2C is a top view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 2A.
• Figure 2D is a side view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 2A.
• Figure 3A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system.
• Figure 3B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 3A.
• Figure 3C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 3A.
• Figure 4A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system.
• Figure 4B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 4A.
• Figure 4C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 4A.
• Figure 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary wash ring used in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 4A.
• Figure 5B is a front view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 5A.
• Figure 5C is a top view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 5A.
• Figure 5D is a side view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 5A.
• Figure 6A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system.
• Figure 6B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 6A.
• Figure 6C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 6A.
• Figure 7A is a perspective view of an exemplary wash ring used in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 6A.
• Figure 7B is a front view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 7A.
• Figure 7C is a top view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 7A.
• Figure 7D is a side view of the exemplary wash ring of Figure 7A.
• Figure 8A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system.
• Figure 8B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 8A.
• Figure 8C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system of Figure 8A.

Provided herein are devices and methods for washing or removing fluid or solids from the exterior and/or interior of a probe in an automated aspirating and dispensing device. The devices and methods provided herein can be used, for instance, to avoid dripping from probes and cross-contamination between samples and/or reagents in an automated aspirating and dispensing device. In certain embodiments, probe washing can be performed prior to, simultaneously, or after aspirating and/or dispensing materials with the probe.

Figure 1 is a front view of an exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 2 which has a robotic probe assembly 3 and a wash ring assembly 4.

The robotic probe assembly 3 has a vertical column and motor assembly 5, a probe mount assembly 6, and a probe 7 which is mounted to the probe mount assembly 6. The vertical column and motor assembly 5 has a motor 8 which employs a belt and gear system 9 to move the probe mount assembly 6 and also the wash ring assembly 4 up and down in vertical direction.

It will be appreciated that the robotic probe assembly 3 including probe 7 together with wash ring assembly 4 can also move in horizontal directions using components not shown in Figure 1. For instance, horizontal motion of the robotic probe assembly 3 together with wash ring assembly 4 along a gantry and rail bearing can be driven by motors as described in Figure 22 and accompanying description of U.S. Pat. Pub No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005. Hence, the wash ring 10 can, for example, be moved relative to the probe 7 in a vertical direction while the probe 7 is moved relative to the ground in a vertical direction, horizontal direction or a combination of horizontal directions or vertical and horizontal directions.

In an exemplary probe mount assembly 6, the probe 7 is threaded into a probe mount 20, which is located on the underside of the probe mount assembly 6, with a small o-ring providing a seal. The probe mount assembly 6 (along with the probe 7 and the wash ring assembly 4) is able to travel vertically under the control of the vertical column and motor assembly 5. In certain embodiments, the robotic aspiration and dispensing system 2, or any other robotic aspiration and dispensing system described herein, is mounted to an automated assay instrument such as the automated assay instrument described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005.

In the exemplary embodiment, the wash ring assembly 4 has a wash ring 10 and a wash ring control and guiding assembly 18. The wash ring 10 is able to move vertically up and down along the long axis of the probe 7 under control of the wash ring control and guiding assembly 18. Alternatively, the wash ring is attached to an air cylinder for vertical movement, for example, as discussed below.

The wash ring control and guiding assembly 18 comprises a lead screw 28, a motor 30, a bearing 32, a first guide shaft 33, a second guide shaft 34, a sensor 35, and a bracket 36. The lead screw 28 and the motor 30 are fixed on the bracket 36 which can be mounted to the probe mount assembly 6 so that bracket 36 (and also the whole wash ring assembly 4) moves with probe mount assembly 6. Therefore, the position and movement of the wash ring 10 are controlled by both the wash ring control and guiding assembly 18 and the probe mount assembly 6. In certain embodiments, a wash ring control and guiding assembly comprises a lead screw and a single guide shaft.

For example, when the probe mount assembly 6 moves down, both the probe 7 and the wash ring 10 moves down along with the probe mount assembly 6. However, the wash ring 10 can also be moved toward the probe tip 22 and back to the probe head 25 by controlling of the wash ring control and guiding assembly 18. When the wash ring 10 is moved toward the position farthest away from the probe tip 22, the probe 7 can be immersed deeply into fluids such as whole blood or any other fluid.

The lead screw 28, the motor 30, and the bearing 32 are used to move and guide the wash ring 10 vertically up and down to a desired position. The bearing 32 is engaged with the lead screw 28 which is controlled by the motor 30. The motor 30 used here can be any stepping motor or linear motor that can be synchronized with the motor 8 of the vertical column and motor assembly 5. Alternatively, an air cylinder attached to the probe mount assembly 6 and the wash ring 10 can be utilized.

One end of the bearing 32 is fixed to through bore 37 on a wash ring support 44 of the wash ring 10. When the motor 30 drives, the lead screw 28 follows and screws the bearing 32 up or down depending on the direction of driving on the lead screw 28. The wash ring 10 is then moved up or down by virtue of a pull or push from the bearing 32. When the wash ring 10 moves, the probe mount assembly 6 (as well as the probe 7) can be either in a steady position or in motion relative to the ground. Therefore, the wash ring 10 can be moved relative to the probe 7 in vertical direction while the probe 7 (and also the probe mount assembly 6) can be moved relative to the ground in a vertical direction.

The lower end of the first guide shaft 33 is connected and fixed to the wash ring support 44 of the wash ring 10 at a bore 38 and the lower end of the second guide shaft 34 is connected and fixed to the wash ring support 44 of the wash ring 10 at a bore 39. The first and second guide shafts 33, 34 are able to travel freely up and down, each through a hole in the bracket 36, together with the wash ring 10 in order to guide and stabilize movement of the wash ring 10. One of the purposes of using the guide shafts 33, 34 is to maintain the proper position of the wash ring, particularly the bore of the wash ring, with respect to the probe, during movements of the probe assembly. Dampening the effects of vibration can be important, since vibration may cause the probe 7 and the wash ring 10 to come into contact with one another.

The sensor 35 is placed at the end of the bracket 36 so as to monitor the position of the wash ring 10 and to feedback the status to a controller to stop or slow down the motor 30 as needed.

In the exemplary embodiment, the probe 7 has a probe tip 22, a probe body 23, a probe base 24, and a probe head 25. The probe tip 22 has a thinner interior diameter than that of the probe body 23 and the probe base 24 so as to increase the velocity of fluid dispensed through the probe tip 22. In this way, the probe dispenses fluid with greater accuracy. The probe head 25 is threaded into the probe mount 20 of the probe mount assembly 6. The probe head 25 can be connected to a syringe pump (not shown) or tubing filled with buffer fluid. Depending on the application, the probe 7 described above can be a reagent probe, a sample probe, an aspiration probe or any combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the probe and its operation are as described in Section 5.3 of U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005. In some embodiments, the probe mount assembly 6 including probe 7 comprises a sample liquid level sensing and blockage detection system as are described in Section 5.3 of U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005.

Figure 2A is a perspective view of an exemplary wash ring 10 for use, for instance, in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 2 of Figure 1. Figure 2B is a front view of the exemplary wash ring 10 of Figure 2A. Figure 2C is a top view of the exemplary wash ring 10 of Figure 2A. Figure 2D is a side view of the exemplary wash ring 10 of Figure 2A. The wash ring 10 has a cylindrical wash ring body 42 and a wash ring support 44. The cylindrical wash ring body 42 has a top surface 46, a bottom surface 48, a cylindrical side wall 50, an inlet 52, an outlet 54, and a bore 56. The bore 56 has an upper port 58 opened at the top surface 46 and a lower port 60 opened at the bottom surface 48.

In the exemplary embodiment, the inlet 52 (also called a liquid port) is located at the upper portion of the wash ring body 42 with a larger open end 62 to be hooked up to a tube (not shown) for wash fluid supply. A smaller end 64 of the inlet 52 is opened to the upper portion of the wash ring bore 56. The wash fluid can be pumped into the wash ring bore 56 through the inlet 52 from the larger open end 62 of the inlet 52 to the smaller end 64 of the inlet 52.

The outlet 54 (preferably a vacuum port) is located at the lower portion of the wash ring body 42 with a larger open end 66 to be hooked up to a tube (not shown) for drainage of waste liquid or substance. A smaller end 68 of the outlet 54 is opened to the lower portion of the wash ring bore 56. The waste fluid or substance in the wash ring bore 56 can be sucked out through the outlet 54 from the smaller end 68 of the outlet 54 to the larger open end 66 of the outlet 54.

The inner diameter of the smaller end 68 of the outlet 54 is larger than the inner diameter of the smaller end 64 of the inlet 52. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the smaller end 64 is about 0.25X to about 0.75X the inner diameter of the smaller end 68. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the smaller end 64 is about 0.25X to about 0.5X the inner diameter of the smaller end 68. In certain embodiments, the inner diameter of the smaller end 64 is about 0.5X the inner diameter of the smaller end 68. The inner diameter of the smaller end 68 of the outlet 54 can, for example, be about 0.02 to about 0.8 inches, about 0.025 inches to about 0.5 inches, or about 0.03 inches to about 0.15 inches. The inner diameter of the smaller end 64 of the inlet 52 can, for example, be about 0.01 to about 0.4 inches, about 0.0125 inches to about 0.25 inches, or about 0.015 inches to about 0.075 inches. The differences of the inner diameters allow, for instance, the output vacuum flow rate through the outlet 54 to be greater than that of the input fluid flow rate into the inlet 52. Since both the upper port 58 and the lower port 60 of the wash ring bore 56 are open to atmosphere, this flow rate difference is able to prevent the wash fluid from escaping from the wash ring bore 56 so as to prevent any fluid leakage or dripping. Depending on the power of the output vacuum, the output vacuum flow rate can be two times to four times greater than the input fluid flow rate.

In the exemplary embodiment, the larger open end 62 of the inlet 52 and the larger open end 66 of the outlet 54 are located at the opposite sides of the cylindrical side wall 50 so that wash fluid coming from the inlet 52 would be forced to flush not only from up to down but also from one side of the bore 56 to the other side. Without intending to be limited to any particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that having the inlet and outlet opening in opposing sides of the bore 56 can lead to a more thorough wash. In the various embodiments, the inlet 52 and the outlet 54 are set up from about 90° to about 180° apart relative to the long axis of the wash ring bore 56.

In the exemplary embodiment, the inner diameter of the bore 56 is sized to receive a probe 7. The space between the interior surface of the bore 56 and the exterior surface of the probe 7 forms a passage for wash fluid to rinse or wash the probe 7. In certain embodiments, the space between the interior surface of the bore 56 and the exterior surface of the probe 7 is in the range of about 0.008 inches to about 0.12 inches, about 0.01 inches to 0.12 inches, or about 0.03 inches to 0.08 inches. Without intending to be limited to any particular theory or mechanism, it is believed that this spacing and the use of aqueous fluids, typically used in the devices and methods for washing a probed as described herein, are conducive for maintaining capillary action to draw fluid entering the bore 56 out of the bore by way of the outlet. As such, the device provided herein is capable of both washing and drying the probe.

For example, the inner diameter of the bore 56 is 0.116 inches while the outer diameter of the probe base 24 is about 0.10 inches, and the outer diameter of the probe body 23 is about 0.07 inches. Therefore, capillary action can be formed when either the probe base 24 or the probe body 23 are within the bore 56. This capillary action and the spiral flow of liquid previously described would provide a thoroughly cleaning of the exterior of the probe 7, thereby preventing cross-contamination of samples or reagents.

The interior surface of the bore 56 can be made of, or coated with, a hydrophobic material, such as plastic, silicon, polyethylene, TEFLON, or other materials constructed by particles in nanometer dimension.

In certain embodiments, the inner surface of bore 56 is a smooth surface.

An exemplary probe cleaning method using the wash ring assembly 10 of Figure 1 is described below. In this exemplary process, the probe mount assembly 6 is in a ready position. The probe 7 is inserted into the wash ring 10 and vertically passed through the bore 56 with the wash ring 10 at its uppermost position relative to the probe 7 as shown in Figure 1. The probe 7 and the wash ring 10 are then moved to align with the center axis of a sample container (not shown). Then, the probe 7 is lowered and immersed into the contents of sample container to the desired depth. Then, a sample is aspirated into the probe 7. The probe 7 is then raised up from the sample container, repositioned over and lowered into a receiving vessel into which the sample is dispensed. The probe 7 is then raised up. A wash fluid is inserted into the bore 56 through the inlet 52, wherein the exterior of the probe 7 is washed as the wash ring 10, propelled by wash ring control and guiding assembly 18, passes along the probe 7 toward the probe tip 22. When the probe tip 22 is located in the bore 56, the wash fluid in the bore 56, and any aspirating fluid or substance within the probe 7 expelled from the interior of the probe 7 through probe tip 22, are removed from the bore 56 through the outlet 54 so as to clean the interior of the probe 7.

The cleaning of the exterior of the probe 7 therefore may occur when the wash ring 10 is moving relative to the probe tip 22. Thus, the exemplary embodiment is capable of washing while simultaneously aspirating and dispensing of fluids into a vessel. This capability, for instance, minimizes the cleaning cycle time and reduces the overall processing time in an automated assay analysis system.

Figure 3A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 80. Figure 3B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 80 of Figure 3A. Figure 3C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 80 of Figure 3A.

In Figure 3A, the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 80 has a probe mount assembly 82 on the left-hand side and a wash ring assembly 84 on the righthand side. A probe 86 is mounted to the probe mount assembly 82.

In the exemplary embodiment, the probe 86 and the wash ring assembly 84 are able to travel horizontally and/or vertically, for example, by mechanisms similar that described above for exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 2. The probe mount assembly 82 may be part of a robot such as the sample robot or the reagent robot described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050123445, published June 9, 2005.

In the exemplary embodiment, the wash ring assembly 84 has a wash ring 88 and a wash ring control and guiding assembly 90. The wash ring 88 is able to move vertically up and down along the long axis of the probe 86 under control of the wash ring control and guiding assembly 90.

The wash ring control and guiding assembly 90 comprises a lead screw 92, a motor 94, a bearing 96, a guide shaft 98, and a bracket 100. The lead screw 92 and the motor 94 are fixed on the bracket 100 which can be fixed to the probe mount assembly 82 so that when the probe mount assembly 82 moves, the bracket 100 (and also the whole wash ring assembly 84) follows. Therefore, the position and movement of the wash ring 88 are controlled by both the wash ring control and guiding assembly 90 and the probe mount assembly 82.

For example, when the probe mount assembly 82 moves down, both the probe 86 and the wash ring 88 moves down along with the probe mount assembly 82. However, the wash ring 88 can also be moved toward the probe tip 102 and back to the probe head 104 by controlling of the wash ring control and guiding assembly 90. When the wash ring 88 is moved toward the position farthest away from the probe tip 102, the probe 86 can be immersed deeply into fluids such as whole blood or any other fluid.

The lead screw 92, the motor 94, and the bearing 96 are used to move and guide the wash ring 86 vertically up and down to a desired position. The bearing 96 is engaged with the lead screw 92 which is controlled by the motor 94. The motor 94 used here can be any stepping motor or linear motor. One end of the bearing 96 is fixed to through bore 106 of the wash ring 88. When the motor 94 drives, the lead screw 92 follows and screws the bearing 96 up or down depending on the direction of driving on the lead screw 92. The wash ring 88 is then moved up or down by virtue of a pull or push from the bearing 96. When the wash ring 88 moves, the probe mount assembly 82 (as well as the probe 86) can be either in a steady position or in motion relative to the ground. Therefore, the wash ring 88 can be moved relative to the probe 86 in vertical direction while the probe 7 (and also the probe mount assembly 82) can be moved relative to the ground in a vertical direction, horizontal direction or combination of the two.

The lower end of the guide shaft 98 is connected and fixed to the wash ring 88 at a bore 108. The guide shaft 98 is able to travel freely up and down, through a hole in the bracket 100, together with the wash ring 88 in order to guide and stabilize movement of the wash ring 88. This single guide shaft structure of Figure 3A may not provide the same degree of stability as could be provided by the dual guide shafts structure previously described in connection with Figure 1. However, this single guide shaft structure is easier to assembly and it takes less space.

The exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 80 of Figure 3A can be mounted to any robot and the movement of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 80 is able to travel in a vertical direction, horizontal direction or combinations of horizontal directions or vertical and horizontal directions.

It will be noted that the wash ring 10 shown in Figures 2A-2D has the wash ring support 44 contacting the wash ring body 42 in the upper portion of the wash ring body 42. The wash ring 88 in Figures 3A-3C is configured such that the wash ring support contacts the wash ring body in the lower portion of the wash ring body.

In Figures 3A-3C, the inlet 83, or liquid port, is located at the upper portion of the wash ring 88 while the outlet 85, or vacuum port, is located at the lower portion of the wash ring 88. The dimensions of the inlet 83, the outlet 85, and the bore through which the probe passes in Figures 3A-3C can be the same as their corresponding parts in Figure 1 and Figures 2A-2D, as discussed above.

Figure 4A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 110. Figure 4B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 110 of Figure 4A. Figure 4C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 110 of Figure 4A.

A difference between Figure 4A and Figure 1 is that in Figure 4A a bearing assembly 112 rather than guide shafts are used to provide a more stable movement of the wash ring 114. In the exemplary embodiment, the bearing assembly 112 consists of a single track rail 116 and a sled 118 movable on the rail 116. The single track rail 116 is laid out at a constant distance away from the probe 120 and in the same direction as the axis of the probe 120. The wash ring 114 has a mounting piece 122 so that the wash ring 114 can be mounted to the movable sled 118 of the bearing assembly 112. The bearing assembly 112 together with a motor 124, a lead screw 126, and a bearing 128 constitute a wash ring control and guiding assembly 130. In this way, when the wash ring 114 travels up and down, the bearing assembly 112 would guide the wash ring 114 in a stable vertical movement without much lateral vibration. Bearing 128 is connected and fixed to the wash ring 114 at bore 123. In Figures 4A-4C the lower portion of bearing 128 that attaches to the wash ring 114 at bore 123 is not shown in order to allow a better view of the wash ring 114.

Figure 5A is a perspective view of an exemplary wash ring 114 used in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 110 of Figure 4A. Figure 5B is a front view of the exemplary wash ring 114 of Figure 5A. Figure 5C is a top view of the exemplary wash ring 114 of Figure 5A. Figure 5D is a side view of the exemplary wash ring 114 of Figure 5A.

In this embodiment, the exemplary wash ring 114 is mounted to the movable sled 118 of the bearing assembly 112, and the shape of the wash ring 114 in Figure 5A is different from that shown in Figure 2A. The wash ring 114 in Figure 5A has a rectangular wash ring body 150 and a L-shaped mounting piece 152. The rectangular wash ring body 150 has a top surface 154, a bottom surface 156, front and rear walls 158, 160, respectively, two side walls 162, 164, an inlet 166, an outlet 168, and a bore 170. The bore 170 has an upper port 172 opened at the top surface 154 and a lower port 174 opened at the bottom surface 156.

In the exemplary embodiment, the inlet 166 is located at the upper portion of the wash ring body 150 with a larger end 176 opened and extended to the front wall 158 to be hooked up to a tube for wash fluid supply. A smaller end 178 of the inlet 166 is opened to the upper portion of the wash ring bore 170. The outlet 168 is located at the lower portion of the wash ring body 150 with a larger end 182 opened and extended to the rear wall 160. The larger end 182 is used to be hooked up to a tube for drainage of waste liquid. A smaller end 184 of the outlet 168 is opened to the lower portion of the wash ring bore 180.

As described above for the smaller ends of the inlet and outlet of the exemplary wash ring 10, the smaller end 184 of the outlet 168 is larger than the inner diameter of the smaller end 178 of the inlet 166 in the exemplary wash ring 114. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the smaller end 178 is about 0.25X to about 0.75X the inner diameter of the smaller end 184. In some embodiments, the inner diameter of the smaller end 178 is about 0.25X to about 0.5X the inner diameter of the smaller end 184. In certain embodiments, the inner diameter of the smaller end 178 is about 0.5X the inner diameter of the smaller end 184. The inner diameter of the smaller end 184 of the outlet 168 can, for example, be about 0.02 to about 0.8 inches, about 0.025 inches to about 0.5 inches, or about 0.03 inches to about 0.15 inches. The inner diameter of the smaller end 178 of the inlet 166 can, for example, be about 0.01 to about 0.4 inches, about 0.0125 inches to about 0.25 inches, or about 0.015 inches to about 0.075 inches.

Figure 6A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 188. Figure 6B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 188 of Figure 6A. Figure 6C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 188 of Figure 6A. The configurations in Figure 6A and Figure 4A are similar except that the location setup of the inlet and the outlet of the wash ring 114 in Figure 4A are rotated 90° compared with the wash ring 190 in Figure 6A.

Figure 7A is a perspective view of an exemplary wash ring 190 used in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 188 of Figure 6A. The wash ring 190 in Figure 7A has a J-shaped wash ring body 192 and a L-shaped mounting piece 194. The J-shaped wash ring body 192 has a top surface 196, a bottom surface 198, a vertical trunk 200, an inlet 202, an outlet 204, and a bore 206. The bore 206 has an upper port 208 opened at the top surface 196 and a lower port 210 opened at the bottom surface 198. Figure 7B is a front view of the exemplary wash ring 190 of Figure 7A. Figure 7C is a top view of the exemplary wash ring 190 of Figure 7A. Figure 7D is a cutaway rear view of the exemplary wash ring 190 of Figure 7A.

In various embodiments, wash ring 190 can be mounted using bore 221 to a bearing, for example, the bearing 195 as shown in Figure 6A, or to an air cylinder, for example, the air cylinder 232 as shown in Figure 8A, as discussed below.

In the exemplary embodiment, the inlet 202 has a larger end 212 opened and extended to the upper portion of the vertical trunk 200. The inlet can be hooked up to a tube for wash fluid supply. A smaller end 214 of the inlet 202 is opened to the upper portion of the wash ring bore 206. The outlet 204 has a larger end 216 opened and extended to the lower portion of the trunk 200. The outlet 204 and the inlet 202 are located at the opposite side of the trunk 200. The larger end 216 can be hooked up to a tube for drainage of waste liquid. A smaller end 218 of the outlet 204 is opened to the lower portion of the wash ring bore 200.

As described above for the smaller ends of the inlets and outlets of the exemplary wash ring 10 and the exemplary wash ring 114 described above, the inner diameter of the smaller end 218 of the outlet 204 is larger than the inner diameter of the smaller end 214 of the inlet 202 in the exemplary wash ring 190. The size relationships between smaller end 214 to smaller end 218 and the ranges of the inner diameters of smaller end 214 and smaller end 218 can, for example, be as described above with respect to smaller ends of the inlets and outlets of the exemplary wash ring 10 or the exemplary wash ring 114.

In certain embodiments, ratio of the inner diameter of the outlet port opening into the bore of the wash ring to the inner diameter of the inlet port opening into the bore of the wash ring is about 4 to 1, about 3 to 1 or about 2 to 1.

One advantage of exemplary wash ring 190 is that it requires less material and can have less mass. Moreover, most of its mass is close to the wash ring bore 206 so that it has a relatively small moment of inertia. Therefore, when the wash ring 190 is moved in a vertical direction along the guide rail 220, its movement is stable and causes less vibration.

Figure 8A is a front view of another exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 230. Figure 8B is a left side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 230 of Figure 8A. Figure 8C is a right side view of the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 230 of Figure 8A. The configurations in Figure 8A and Figure 6A are similar except that in Figure 8A, an air cylinder 232 is used to replace the motor 191, the lead screw 193, and the bearing 195 in Figure 6A. The air cylinder 232 can be of any pneumatic cylinder known to a person skilled in the art.

The exemplary wash ring 190 as represented in Figures 7A-7D can, for example, is used in the exemplary robotic aspiration and dispensing system 230 shown in Figure 8A.